http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/karen-toles-prince-georges-council-member-charged-with-reckless-driving/2012/03/06/gIQAr8jovR_story.html?hpid=z5

Took them long enough to come to their senses and charge her with more serious offenses. Hopefully she will have her license suspended and because of her high profile, she won't be able to sneak around and drive on a suspended license like some other reckless drivers.

And I have lived and worked in PG County for 20 years. I know many, many residents of this county and I do not know of a single person who has explicity agreed with or condoned what the Johnsons did to our county. Most residents of this county are outraged that they got off as lightly as they did (really--one year and one day for Leslie? Absurd).

I just heard on NBC that they WILL be giving her a ticket and 6 points on her license. Didn't hear how much the fine was. I also think I read a few days ago that her car was taken away?

Anonymous wrote:Just heard on either 88.5 or 107.7 that she's banned from using county vehicles.

She gave up driving county vehicles. I wonder if she'll insist on being driven in county vehicles.

Just heard on either 88.5 or 107.7 that she's banned from using county vehicles.

Anonymous wrote:This lady sounds dangerous. Really. What? Are they just waiting until she hurts someone? Sickening. And to the OP who mentioned getting off with a warning for 85, I think there's quite a difference between 85 and 105. 105?? That's a tragedy waiting to happen.

Agree there's a big difference between 85 and 105 mph. Also, I understand the right to ticket at a speed trap but there's a reason they're called speed traps (which is how the pp got just a warning at 85 mph). But there's no excuse ever for going 105 mph on the beltway.

This lady sounds dangerous. Really. What? Are they just waiting until she hurts someone? Sickening.

And to the OP who mentioned getting off with a warning for 85, I think there's quite a difference between 85 and 105.

105?? That's a tragedy waiting to happen.

Anonymous wrote:And she has 2 citations a month apart in 2009 for driving with an unrestrained minor. OMG. Put your own life in danger, whatever. But you're a crazy lead-footed driver and your kids aren't in car seats or seat belts? That's the definition of reckless.

+1

This right here reminds me of the thread in GP or daycare and preschools about other parents driving on field trips and playdates. This is why people need to know who is driving your kids during a playdate. Sure your kid may be riding with a council member but she has issues restraining her own and multiple speeding violations.

And she has 2 citations a month apart in 2009 for driving with an unrestrained minor. OMG. Put your own life in danger, whatever. But you're a crazy lead-footed driver and your kids aren't in car seats or seat belts? That's the definition of reckless.

Anonymous wrote:So she gets to keep the county suv since she has agreed to driving class? I heard this earlier this morning.

Somehow I don't feel that the (self-selected) punishment fits the crime (well, the crime that was committed by not charged by the police officer). Her license should be suspended.

So she gets to keep the county suv since she has agreed to driving class? I heard this earlier this morning.

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:I beleive the officer said that he paced her at 105 before she pulled over but a "pacing" speed can't be used for an official ticket so he gave her what ticket he could which was unsafe lane changing. So was it really "preferential treatment" or a hamstrung officer.

But also this isn't her first speeding ticket. One thing I remember from driving a company vehicle was that any traffic violation would get the car pulled. At the very least, P.G. County needs to take the the T-Bird away.

I disagree about the pacing ticket. A quick google search showed lots of people ticketed in Maryland for a pacing speeding ticket (I didn't search for the regulation). I always understood that to be the law as well (that a patrol car could follow you for a certain distance to estimate your speed and ticket you based in that). In this case the cruiser had onboard video recording that showed he wasn't gaining on her while going 108 mph. That evidence is hard to rebut in court (like a properly calculated radar gun is hard to refute). She certainly could have gotten reckless driving. But please, please, give up the keys, lady.

Anonymous wrote:Ok. I haven't been in the area for a while, but will someone please tell me how the hell you go 105 on the beltway? My memory mostly includes endless bumper to bumper traffic?

The road is pretty clear generally in the Branch Avenue area. Well, I should add that its not as bad as the College Park or Bowie area traffic. Now it does back up going towards Waldorf. I used to in the area and rush hour was nothing compared to Tysons traffic.